FAQs

HOW OFTEN DO WE DREAM?

Experts tell us that most of us have several dreams each night (usually 3). Given the fact that we sleep 1/3 of our lives, that’s A LOT of dreams. Scientists actually say that we’ll have over 100,000 dreams during the course of our lives.

WHY CAN’T I REMEMBER MY DREAMS?

Certain things interfere with really good dream recall.

Alcohol consumption

Fever

Medication

Lack of sleep

Unconscious fears about the content of your dreams.

Also, some dreams are so ordinary and “everyday” that our minds don’t distinguish them, necessarily as dreams. That’s why we often can’t remember if something actually happened or if it was just a dream.

Something else that’s interesting is this: Most of the time we only remember the last dream we had – the one closest to the time we woke up. It sort of outshines the others simply because it’s the last one we had putting it at the front of our memory bank.

DOES EVERYONE DREAM?

Absolutely! Not everyone remembers their dreams, but everyone has them.

DO PEOPLE DREAM IN COLOR OR IN BLACK AND WHITE?

Both! Most people dream in color, but some people (perhaps those with a flair for the dramatic as well as those of us who watch A LOT of I Love Lucy and Andy Griffith!) do dream, occasionally, in black and white.

WHAT IS A LUCID DREAM?

Lucid dreams are what fascinating dreams are made of. They are dreams in which the dreamer KNOWS he or she is dreaming. Please click the following link to read more about Lucid Dreams: What are Lucid Dreams?

HOW CAN I SLEEP WITH MY HUSBAND’S SNORING?

Tough one. If you’re lucky, he’ll agree to try one of the snoring aids available in most stores. I’ve heard a lot of great things about the nasal strip. Apparently, the sleeper (aka snorer!) isn’t bothered by it whatsoever.

However, if this isn’t something that appeals to him, there are a few other things you can try.

Buy him a thicker pillow. Sometimes elevating the head will open the breathing passages and he and you will both sleep better.

Convince him to lay on his side. Lying on his back will create the loudest snoring imaginable.

Finally, if nothing else works FOR HIM, you may have to approach this FOR YOU. The mind is a powerful, powerful thing – and extremely complex. In a lot of ways it’s like a machine – and it’s one that we can rewire to a certain extent if we choose to.

Start associating his snoring with peacefulness, sleep, tranquility, and relaxation. After all, if you’re in bed and he has flipped his “snore” switch, it means it’s the end of the day. You don’t have any more work to do, no more demands will be put upon you, no phones need to be answered, no meal is waiting to be prepared… You don’t even have to carry on a conversation with anyone. It’s your down time and his snoring could become a symbol for it.

For example, like a lot of people, I sleep with a fan on. I have for as long as I can remember. It’s not for the breeze, it’s for the sound – it signals sleep and relaxation to me. It trumpets my own down time!

In fact, during the summer, when I turn a fan on, I find that it makes me kind of sleepy! I associate the noise with sleep.

Snoring is, after all, just a noise. It isn’t evil, disgusting, ugly, or vile. It’s just a noise. Like a fan’s humming is just a noise. Work really hard on looking at it from this standpoint, it’ll make a world of difference.

I’ll tell you a little personal experience. My husband is a snoring machine. Big time! I used to wonder, “How am I ever going to be able to sleep with that horrible noise?!” (the fan hasn’t been made that could drown my guy out!). Then, one night he was out of town and it was just me, our cat, and the fan. You guessed it, I didn’t sleep a wink! It occurred to me, “How am I ever going to be able to sleep without that comforting noise?!” What really hit home was when I realized what it would be like if he were gone for good, rather than just gone for the night.

I, honestly, haven’t had a problem with the snore fests since. They signal to me that all’s right with the world – my sweetie’s right where I want him to be, the room’s dark and comfortable, the fan’s humming, and all’s right with the world. Next thing I know, zzzzzzzzz….

If you have a question regarding any of the following (or anything sleep and dream-related!), use the contact form below to submit your question. Then check back for the answer!